An optimistic, little piece about the Texans from CBS Sportsline. http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/features/writers/prisco/grades/week15
If we can make our defense better and work on our special teams... and oh, keep our Rb and Qb from being injured
This team also needs to be able to close games out, especially on the road. This will come with better depth (especially on the D-line), turnovers obviously, more consistency in the running game. I hate to fire coordinators because that means the next year is spent adjusting to a new playbook or even system. Smith hasn't done a great job, but firing him really hurts the defense next year, especially to start the season.
Our biggest problem yesterday was redzone offense, and we have not been much better throughout the season. We can't continue to put up 400 or 500 yard days of offense and come away with 13 or 24 points.
Thanks for sharing. I missed the game on sunday, but I DVR'ed it. I'll watch it when I return to the states from CanaDUH. They have been playing great the last month, makes it so much fun to watch. Too bad we are eliminated from any post season. More hopes for next year. can't wait.
Said the exact same last year when we finished the season strong. We need to find a way to keep Schaub healthy because the offense is very good with him AJ, Slaton, etc... Still think we need to add another pass rusher opposite of Mario and an upgrade at one of the Safety positions would be very nice as well.
Still, you have to admit that objectively speaking, these Texans are better than the team that finished 8-8 last year. The offense is already there, and the defense seems to finally be catching up. Very few holes to fill on offense (really other than a complementary back for Slaton and a new backup QB, this offense pretty much has all the weapons it needs now). On defense, a pass rushing end opposite Mario and a couple of weapons in the secondary should be sufficient upgrade this unit to an elite one. This is really the first time that this team has had a realistic shot at filling all its pressing needs within one offseason.
Ya, I would definitely say this year's team is better than last years but I do think that last year's team had more quality wins (Caroina, N.O. Bucs, Broncos). Outside of yesterdays game, all of our wins have come against losing teams. But I absolutely agree that we do have a realistic shot at filling our big needs this offseason. But kinda like this year, a lot is going to depend on the QB play and whether Schaub can stay healthy.
carolina, new orleans and denver all finished 7-9 last year; the buccaneers were 9-7 - tennessee is an infinitely better team, and certainly much better record-wise. and you're leaving out the 9-5 dolphins. hopefully, we'll be able to add the bears to the list, currently 8-6.
The Broncos were terrible last year. Carolina, while a quality win at the time, proved to be a weak team. The Saints and Bucs were mediocre at best in '07. Meanwhile, we got abused by Jacksonville, San Diego, Indy, and if not for the miracle comeback Tennessee. We've played more quality games this year than last. Other than Pittsburgh and Baltimore, we've been a tough competitor and been in every game. Keep in mind we've beaten a 9 win Miami team and of course the Titans yesterday...those two alone are better than any of our wins last year. We are making progress...
Our division has been too good the past two years. Its hard luck that all four teams are in their better years right now. We went 7-3 outside or our division last year and will be possibly 7-3 outside the division this year! Imagine being in the NFC West the last two years. Even the AFC West. Any division outside the AFC South in fact. I can guarantee we would have made the playoffs either this year or last.
Mapping, I guess you can call it, has been our biggest problem. Put us in the NFC, playoffs. Put us in the East, conference finals (probably.) Our real benefit is that it makes us overall tougher in the long run, if we survive.
Even with the Packers not playing up to where they did last year, that was a quality win. Lambeau is a tough place to play, especially with the conditions they were in. Oh and the first Indy game gives me confidence. That was all Sage.
I want to see some personnel upgrades in the secondary, defensive line, and offensive line before I get really hyped. The skill positions look set, though I am not totally sold on Shaub.
I'm sold on Schaub. I'm a fantasy owner, so I know. I have regretted it EVERY single time I've benched him. Schaub has been nothing short of elite this year (and this was way before he got injured). He's definitely one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the league, if not top 5. I'm not bothered about injuries, either -- it just doesn't seem reasonable to question his durability because of a dangerous cheap shot that would take out just about any quarterback not named Tim Tebow. I'd be much more concerned about replacing Rosenfels as backup. As for the O-line, I wouldn't be against drafting a guard and getting some depth, but this line is performing as well as some of the best in the league, even with a rookie left tackle. Draft for depth, but this is no longer a pressing need.
